Oxford

Oxford's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in ethnicity, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 150,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Oxford increased by 13%, from just over 134,000 to 152,000.

The addition of just under 18,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Oxford was home to, on average, 24 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Oxford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Oxford decreased by two years, from 31 to 29 years.

This area had the lowest average age in the South East and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 6,200 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by about 500.

About 26% of people in Oxford are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Oxford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The rate of self-employment increased in Oxford, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South East, except Oxford.

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of self-employed people, as the regional average grew from 9.5% to 11%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 14 (7.0%) people aged 16 to 74 in Oxford said they were self-employed, compared with 6.2% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 47% to 47%.

The rate of self-employment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

This area saw the South East's second-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, only Basingstoke and Deane saw a greater fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 9.8% to 8.8%).

In 2011, just under 1 in 14 (7.0%) households in Oxford had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 7.7% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 24% to 27%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Oxford

The number of people in Oxford from the White ethnic groups remained close to 120,000 between the last two seasons. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 87% to 78%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Oxford from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 8,900 in 2001 to about 19,000 in 2011 (from 6.7% to 12%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 3,400 to about 7,000 (from 2.5% to 4.6%).

Just over 6,000 people (2.4%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 3,200 in 2001 (4.0%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Oxford decreased by 9.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Oxford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Oxford

The number of people in Oxford that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 32,000 in 2001 to about 50,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 24% to 33% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Oxford that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 81,000 in 2001 to just under 73,000 in 2011 (from 60% to 48%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 12,000 to about 13,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.7% to 8.3%.

About 10,000 people (3.9%) said they were Muslim, up from about 5,200 in 2001 (6.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Oxford increased by 9.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Oxford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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